Lifeline is a federal program that takes up to $9.25 a month off your phone or internet bill. If you live on qualifying Tribal lands, the discount goes up to $34.25 a month.
People call it the “free phone program” because some phone companies build a plan around that discount and charge you $0 a month for it. The program itself pays for service, not for the phone. That difference matters when you pick a company, so we will walk through it.
You qualify through a benefit you already get, like SNAP or Medicaid, or through your income. You apply once, pick a participating company, and confirm you still qualify every year. The official site is lifelinesupport.org, run by the program’s administrator.
We checked every number on this page against the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which runs Lifeline, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which sets the rules. Where we could not confirm something, we say so.
What Is the Lifeline Program?
Lifeline is the FCC’s program for making phone and internet service cheaper for low-income households. It is available in every state, territory and commonwealth, and on Tribal lands.
Here is how the money works. You never get a check. The discount goes to your phone or internet company, and the company takes it off your bill.
USAC lists the amounts this way:
- Up to $9.25 a month off internet service or a phone and internet bundle.
- Up to $5.25 a month off phone service that is voice only.
- Up to $34.25 a month off phone, internet or bundled service if you live on qualifying Tribal lands.
You can use it on a cell phone plan or on home service. You cannot use it on both at once. Lifeline is one discount per household.
Three groups are involved, and it helps to know who does what. The FCC writes the rules. USAC checks whether you qualify and handles the yearly renewal. Your phone or internet company signs you up, runs your service and answers questions about your bill or your device.
Is the Lifeline Phone Really Free?
The service can be. The phone is a separate question.
Lifeline is a discount on monthly service. Some wireless companies price a basic plan so the discount covers all of it, which is how you end up with a $0 bill. Other companies just knock the discount off a regular plan and you pay the rest.
The handset is not part of the federal benefit. The FCC says plainly that it does not subsidize any hardware in the Lifeline program, including phones that a company hands out to Lifeline customers. If a company gives you a phone, that is the company’s own offer. It can change, and if the phone breaks, the company is who you call.
What the rules do guarantee is a floor on the service. USAC’s minimum standards for a Lifeline cell phone plan are at least 1,000 voice minutes a month, or at least 4.5 GB of data a month at 3G speed or better. For home internet, the floor is 25/3 Mbps with at least 1,280 GB a month. A company offering data plans also has to have at least one hotspot-capable device available.
Which companies offer Lifeline?
It depends on where you live. Lifeline companies are approved state by state, so the right list is the one for your zip code. USAC’s Companies Near Me tool gives you that list.
We only name companies whose own sites we could read for this update. Two of them:
- StandUp Wireless advertises free monthly talk, text and data for people who qualify, with no monthly bill and no contract. Its site says you can use your own phone and keep your number.
- enTouch Wireless says it offers Lifeline in 37 states, with free monthly talk and text and plans starting at 4.5 GB of data. It also advertises a phone with service for people who qualify, and labels that part a promotional offer that can change.
There are other Lifeline companies, including bigger names. We left out any company whose site we could not load ourselves, so treat this as a starting point and not a ranking. We do not earn anything from either one.
Before you pick, ask each company three things. Is the plan $0 a month or just discounted? Is a phone included, and is it yours to keep? Can you bring a phone you already own? If you would rather buy your own, there are cheap options on Amazon. Check that the phone works on that company’s network before you pay for it.
Who Qualifies for Lifeline?
There are two main ways in. You only need one of them.
1. You already get one of these benefits
You qualify if you, or someone in your household, is in one of these programs:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which used to be called food stamps
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance, which includes Section 8 housing choice vouchers, project-based rental assistance and public housing
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
A child or dependent counts. If your kid is on Medicaid and you are not, the household can still qualify through them.
If you live on qualifying Tribal lands, four more programs count: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and Head Start if your household met its income standard.
This is the easier route for most people. USAC checks its databases first, and when that does not work, a benefit letter dated in the last 12 months does the job.
2. Your income is low enough
You also qualify if your household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. These are the yearly income limits USAC publishes, based on the 2026 guidelines:
| Household size | 48 states, D.C. and territories | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $21,546 | $26,933 | $24,786 |
| 2 people | $29,214 | $36,518 | $33,602 |
| 3 people | $36,882 | $46,103 | $42,417 |
| 4 people | $44,550 | $55,688 | $51,233 |
| 5 people | $52,218 | $65,273 | $60,048 |
| 6 people | $59,886 | $74,858 | $68,864 |
| 7 people | $67,554 | $84,443 | $77,679 |
| 8 people | $75,222 | $94,028 | $86,495 |
| Each additional person | add $7,668 | add $9,585 | add $8,816 |
The poverty guidelines change every year, so these numbers will too. USAC’s qualify page always has the current table.
To prove income, USAC accepts things like last year’s tax return, a Social Security statement of benefits, an unemployment statement, or pay stubs covering three months in a row.
Survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking
There is a separate path for survivors. It has wider limits, including household income up to 200% of the poverty guidelines, WIC, free or reduced-price school meals, or a Pell Grant in the current award year. It can provide up to six months of emergency Lifeline support, and USAC adds privacy protections to the application. The details are on USAC’s Survivor Benefit page.
Can Seniors Get a Lifeline Phone?
Yes, if you meet the same rules as everyone else. Lifeline has no age-based route. Turning 65 does not qualify you, and neither Medicare nor a regular Social Security retirement check is on USAC’s list of qualifying programs.
Plenty of older adults still get in. These are the usual ways:
- SSI. Supplemental Security Income is on the list. It is not the same thing as Social Security retirement.
- Medicaid. If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, the Medicaid side qualifies you.
- Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit.
- SNAP or federal housing assistance.
- Income. If Social Security is your only income and it comes to $21,546 a year or less for a one-person household in most states, you are under the limit. Your Social Security benefits statement works as proof.
If you are helping a parent apply, the one-per-household rule is the thing to check first. A parent who lives with you and shares your income and bills is part of your household.
More: Other ways seniors can get a free or low-cost cell phone
How to Apply for Lifeline
There are three ways to apply. All three end up in the same place, a system called the National Verifier, which USAC uses to confirm you qualify.
- Online. Start from the “Apply Now” button on USAC’s how-to-apply page. This is the fastest route if you are comfortable with online forms.
- Through a phone or internet company. A participating company can help you fill out the application. This is the easiest route if you want someone to walk you through it.
- By mail. Print the application in English or Spanish, or call (800) 234-9473 and USAC will mail you one. Send it to Lifeline Support Center, PO Box 1000, Horseheads, NY 14845.
Oregon and Texas are different. Both states run their own application. If you live in one of them, go through Oregon Lifeline or Texas Lifeline instead.
What you need to have ready
- Your full legal name
- Your date of birth
- The last four digits of your Social Security number, or your Tribal ID number
- Your home address
No permanent address? USAC says you can use a temporary one, like a shelter or a friend’s or relative’s place, or describe where you physically live.
If you are qualifying through a child or dependent, you will need their name, date of birth and last four digits too.
You may not need to send any paperwork. USAC tries to confirm you through its databases first. If it cannot, it will tell you which documents to send. The common ones are a benefit letter, a tax return or pay stubs, and an ID that has not expired. USAC’s supporting documents page lists every option.
Getting approved is step one. You are not getting the discount until you sign up with a company. Once USAC approves you, contact a participating company and enroll with them.
We could not find an official processing time on USAC’s site, so we are not going to quote one. If you get stuck, the Lifeline Support Center is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern at (800) 234-9473.
Four Rules That Can Cost You the Benefit
These are the rules that trip people up. USAC lists the middle two among the common reasons service gets turned off.
One discount per household
A household is everyone who lives together and shares income and expenses. That group gets one Lifeline discount in total. A married couple cannot each have one.
People at the same address are not always one household. Roommates who keep separate finances can count as separate households, and so can residents of a group living facility. If another adult at your address already has Lifeline, you will be asked to fill out a household worksheet to sort that out.
Use it every 30 days
This one applies when your plan is free. If you do not pay anything out of pocket for your Lifeline service, you have to use it at least once every 30 days. Skip that and you get a 15-day notice. Ignore the notice and the service can be turned off.
Recertify every year
Every year, USAC checks that you still qualify. Oregon and Texas do this check themselves. A lot of the time it happens automatically and you do nothing.
If USAC cannot confirm you on its own, it sends a letter or an email. From there you have 60 days to respond. Miss that window and you lose the benefit, which means your bill goes up or your free service stops.
You can recertify online, by mail, or by phone at (855) 359-4299 if no documents are required. So open anything that comes from USAC or the Lifeline Support Center. If you do lose the benefit and still qualify, you can apply again.
Report changes within 30 days
Tell your company within 30 days if you move, if you stop qualifying, or if someone else in your household starts getting Lifeline. Staying on the program after you stop qualifying can lead to penalties, according to the FCC.
One thing that is not a problem: switching. You can move your Lifeline benefit to a different company at any time. Call the new company and ask them to transfer it. You may have to reapply first.
Lifeline on Tribal Lands
If you live on qualifying Tribal lands, the discount is up to $34.25 a month. That is the standard benefit plus up to $25 in extra support.
There is also Link Up, which takes up to $100 off the setup fee for phone service at your home address. If setup costs more than that, Link Up can spread up to $200 over a year with no interest. Not every company takes part, so ask before you sign up.
USAC’s Tribal Lands Benefit page has a tool to check whether your address is on qualifying land.
What Happened to the Affordable Connectivity Program?
It ended. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was the bigger internet discount, up to $30 a month, or up to $75 on Tribal lands. The FCC stopped taking new enrollments in February 2024 and ended the program on June 1, 2024, because Congress did not approve more funding.
Lifeline is the federal discount that is still running. It is smaller, and the FCC said as much when the ACP closed.
Watch out for leftovers. The FCC has warned that some websites still advertise the ACP and still collect personal information from people trying to enroll. If a site offers to sign you up for the ACP, it is out of date at best. Do not give it your Social Security number.
The same goes for older pandemic-era help. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is gone too, and USAC’s current pages list yearly recertification and the 30-day usage rule as active requirements.
If You Don’t Qualify for Lifeline
Being a little over the income limit does not mean you are stuck with a big phone bill. A few places to look:
- A low-cost prepaid carrier. Small prepaid carriers sell plans with no contract. Our Tello review covers one of them.
- FreedomPop, with a catch. It used to be the well-known free plan. That plan ended in February 2026, and its cheapest plan is now $10 a month. Our FreedomPop review has the details.
- A free phone number app. If you have Wi-Fi and a working phone, apps like Google Voice and TextNow give you a number for calls and texts. We compared them in our guide to free phone numbers, which is written for small businesses but works for anyone.
- A lower bill from the carrier you have. If you are staying put, here is how to lower an AT&T bill.
If the phone bill is one of several you cannot cover right now, call 2-1-1 to find local help. There is also a list of 22 U.S. hardship grant programs here. Grants take weeks, so start early.
Lifeline Program FAQs
The monthly service can be. Lifeline is a discount of up to $9.25 a month, and some wireless companies offer a plan that the discount covers in full, so your bill is $0. The phone itself is not part of the federal benefit. The FCC does not subsidize hardware, so a free handset is the company’s own offer. Use USAC’s Companies Near Me tool to see who serves your zip code, then ask each one what is included.
Your household income has to be at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Under the 2026 guidelines that is $21,546 a year for one person and $44,550 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states, D.C. and the territories. Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits. You do not need to meet the income test if you already get SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, federal housing assistance or a Veterans Pension.
Not from those alone. Lifeline has no age-based route, and Medicare and Social Security retirement benefits are not on the qualifying list. Seniors usually qualify through SSI, Medicaid, a Veterans Pension, SNAP, housing assistance, or by having income under the limit. A Social Security benefits statement is accepted as proof of income. We cover other options in our guide to free cell phones for seniors.
Only if they are separate households. Lifeline allows one discount per household, and a household is a group of people who live together and share income and expenses. Two adults at one address who do not share money can each qualify, and they will be asked to complete a household worksheet. A married couple counts as one household.
No. The FCC ended the Affordable Connectivity Program on June 1, 2024, after Congress did not provide more funding. It had paid up to $30 a month toward internet service. Lifeline is still running. The FCC has warned that some websites still advertise the ACP, so do not enter personal information on a site that offers to enroll you in it.
Yes. USAC checks every year that you still qualify, and Oregon and Texas run that check themselves. If it can confirm you automatically, you do nothing. If it cannot, you get a letter or email and have 60 days to recertify online, by mail or by phone. If you miss the deadline you lose the benefit, and you can reapply if you still qualify.
Yes. USAC says you can transfer your Lifeline benefit to a new company at any time. Contact the new company and ask for the transfer. They will need your name, date of birth, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your Tribal ID number, your address and your consent. You may need to reapply first.
Yes. The discount works on phone service, internet service or a bundle, from a participating company. It is up to $9.25 a month on internet or a bundle and up to $5.25 a month on voice-only phone service. You get one discount per household, so you choose which service it goes on.
The Bottom Line
If you are on SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, federal housing assistance or a Veterans Pension, you are on the qualifying list. Check the qualifying list, apply through USAC or a participating company, and then pick a company that serves your zip code.
After that, two habits keep it. Use the phone at least once a month, and answer the recertification notice when it comes.
Explore more in Budgeting and Manage Money.
This page is general information, not legal or benefits advice. USAC and the FCC set the Lifeline rules and decide who qualifies, and the amounts and income limits change. Confirm the current terms at lifelinesupport.org before you apply. Advertiser disclosure: We may receive compensation from some of the companies listed on this site. This does not influence what we write. The Lifeline companies named here are not advertising partners.
